ve? And are you, you who have sinned against him, are
you to let him break his heart against a rock, because
you are too proud to own to him the fault which you
acknowledge to yourself? Is that your return for the love
which he has borne you?

You wish that he had loved me, you say. Do not wish away
the sweetest gift which God can give to a woman in this
world. It was not possible that I should have loved him.
It is quite impossible now that you should not do so.

Try to think in this affair with severity towards
yourself, and ask yourself what justice requires of you.
My advice to you is to write to him. Tell him, with frank
humility and frank affection, that you ask his pardon
for the injury that you had done him. Say no more
than that. If it shall still please him to consider
that the engagement between you is at an end, such an
acknowledgment from you will in no way constrain him to
violate that resolve. But if he relent--and I know that
this other "if" will be the true one--the first train that
runs will bring him back to you; and he, who I am sure is
now wretched, will again be happy; ah! happier than he has
been for so long.

I implore you to do this, not for your own sake, but for
his. You have done wrong, and it is he that should be
considered. You will think what will be your sufferings if
he does not notice your letter; should he not be softened
by your humility. But you have no right to think of that.
You have done him wrong, and you owe him reparation. You
cannot expect that you should do wrong and not suffer.

I fear I have written savagely. Dear, dear Caroline, come
to me here, and I will not talk savagely. I too am not
happy. I have not my happiness so much in my own hands as
you have. Do come to me. Papa will be delighted to see
you. I am sure Miss Baker could spare you for a fortnight.
Do, do come to

Your true friend,

ADELA.

There was much of craft in Adela Gauntlet's letter; but if craft
could ever be pardonable, then was hers pardonable in this case.
She had written as though her sole thought was for Mr. Bertram. She
had felt that in this way only could she move her friend. In her
mind--Adela's mind--it was a settled conviction, firm as rocks, that
as Caroline and Mr. Bertram loved each other, neither of them could
be happy unless they were brought together. How could she best